Method of securing nuts in plates



March 25, 1 941. 1 w, 051 2,236,180

' METHOD OF SECURING NUTS IN PLATES Filed 001;. 26, 1938 FIE; 1.

FIE [5. FIG. 5. 1 1 13:7.

3 YWW Ham/d W from" Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE 2,236,180 METHOD OF SECURING NUTS PLATES Application October 26, 1938, Serial No. 237,070

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-148) This invention relates to fastening devices but more particularly to the method of fastening nuts to supporting panels or the like.

An object of the invention is to produce a simpie and eflicient method by which nuts having relatively plain or uniform size can be readily and conveniently secured in openings in metal plates, portions of the metal of the nut being caused to flow in such manner as to provide rib-like members for securely clinching the nut to the plate. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are o n y way of illustration but not of limitation on the accompanying drawing in which figurelis-aperspectiveviewpartlyinseetion of a nut secured to a supporting plate, rib-like flanges being formed on the nut to clinch opposite sides of the supporting plate;

Figure 2 s a. perspective view of a conventional nut of polygonal form showing by dotted lines implements employed for forming the riblike clinching flanges;

Figure 3 lap. sectional elevation of a. nut and a supporting plate showing the manner in which the implements are employed for causing the 2B ratfljfi'the-nul; to flow informing the clinching Figure 4 is a perspective viewot a nut in which the rib-like clinching flanges are formed on each sideoi'aiour-sided nut;

80 Figure 5 is a'sectional elevation of a supporting plateandanuthavingtaperedsidesinwhi one set of rib-like flanges are employed;

Pigureiiisnverticalsectionalelevationofauother form of nut provided with axially exten- 35 nonsatthesideedgesiorpmvidingthedesired clinching flanges to'engage the supporting plate;

Hgure'lisatopplanviewofanutfcrmedwith rib-likeclinchingflanges obtained bytheuseofa curved implement or punching tool; and

40 Figure 8 is avertical sectional elevation on the line H oi Figure I.

' The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprisesaplateorpanelllhavingasquare.

opening II to receive a four-sided nut I! as 5 showninFigureil. 'lhenut'llisoteonventional form provided with the tuna] screw-threaded opminglidisposedcentrallyfliereof. Incarryingoutthemethomthenutliisdis osedi flm opming ll so that portions thereof extend on so oppositesidesottheplate II. Bysuitablymaingthenut ltandplatellintheabovepmition, themetal adjacent the opposite sideedgesofthe nutmbothsidsoftheplatelllseaused-toflow outwardlyandinw'ardlytowardtheiflate llin lfmbstantiallyanarcuatepathasindicatedbythe arrows a in Figure 3 to form elongate rib-like clinching flanges i 5 which clinch the region of the plate It juxtaposed to the aperture II thereby securing the nut against axial as well as turning movement. As shown, the rib-like flanges I 5 5 do not extend to the corners of the nut but leave the latter in the original condition thereby to enhence the strength of the nut against turning movements.

The implements or tools for cutting and brac- 10 mg the metal of the nut to form the rib-like flanges l5 are hardened plate-like instruments having a tapered end portion l6 which, as indicated on Figure 2, inclines upwardly and outwardly with respect to the adiacent side edge of 15 the nut. As shown on Figure 3, the tapered end' It, when suitable pressure is applied to the implement, operates to cam or roll the edge portion of the metal of the nut outwardly and inwardly 'against the plate as will be readily understood. 20

The forming of the rib-like clinching flanges [5 may be accomplished in a single step whereupon the four flanges are concomittantly formed or if desired, the flanges on one side 01' 'the' plate i I may be formed and in a successive step, the flanges on the opposite side of the plate may be formed.

'As shown .on Figure 4, the nut Ila is formed with pairs of rib-like clinching flanges iia on each of the four sides, the corner portions being left in their original condition. Obviously, the flanges are formed similarly to the method above described.

In Figures 7 and 8, the nut lib originally a conventional four-sided nut, is formed with riblike clinching flanges lib on each of the four sides but the tool for forming these flanges is diflerently shaped than the tool It and instead of having a. straight working end as in the case of the tool ll, the tool has ,an arcu-ate working end 40 but with a tapered suriace similar to the taper' It, thereby providing a cup-like depression II. This leaves a greater amount of metal at the corner portions of the nut even when providing longer flanges than shown on Figure 7, inasmuch as the punch curves away from the corner portiom of the nut.

According to the construction shown in Figure 5, the nut He has a. tapered outside surface II which, when inserted in the opening lie of the supporting plate ilc, serves asa stop to limit the axial movement of the nut. The rib-like clinching flanges lic are formed on the nut on the opposite side of the plate llc according'to the method above described.

A still further method and means is shown in axially extending projections I! which taper outwardly from the adjacent side of the nut to the side edge thereof. As shown, a similar projection is-folrmed on each of the sid edges. The nut is placed in the aperture lie of the supporting plate Me so that the plate is substantially midway of the opposite sides of th nut. Plungers 2| and 2| engage opposite sides of the nut lie and are forced toward each other in the direction of the arrows e. This causes the metal of the projecticn is to flow laterally in a curvilinear path againstthe opposite sides of the plate lie to form rib-like clinching flanges lie, the outer surface thereof being substantially cc-eittensive with the sides of the nut.

From the-above description it will be apparent that I have provided an exceedinglysimple and emcient method of securing plain or conventional nuts in supporting plates so that they are held in place against axial and turning movements. The implements or tools may be of, simple and inexpensive construction and the or punching operations carried cut by relatively 1mskilled workmen. One important feature of this invention resides in the rib-like clinching flange which engages a substnntiai side of the opening in which the nut B disposed thereby effectively holding the 'nut against axial movement. Dimculty has heretofore been experienced in holding nuts of this character in place particularly where merely the corner portions are upset inas- 2,aao,1so

' much as insufllclent surface adjacent the openin: is engaged to militate against pulling the nut out when in use. It is to be understood that although I have described embodiments of the invention in coni;

nection wtth four-sided nuts that other shaped nuts such as h nuts may be employed.

It isto be imderstood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operaltion may be eflected without departing from the id spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is: a

1. The method of securing a polygonal nut of uniform exterior in a polygonal apenture of a size 15 and shape suiilclent to fit the nut with portions of the nut disposed on opposite sides of the apeuture, which consists in inserting the nut into the aperture, and thereatter applying to opposite sides of the nut adjacent the side edges thereof 20 but away from the corners to cause the metal to flow laterally in a substantially arcuate path to form rib-like pmjectlons in gripping relation upon opposite side edges of the aperture.

2. That method of the character described 25 which consists in providing a nut having axial projections at the side edge thereof and at opposite ends, inserting the nut into an aperture in a plate, and applying pressure in an axial direction against said projections to cause the metal 30 to flow laterally upon the plate.

' HAROLD W. KOST. 

